Publix

Publix Super Markets, Inc., doing business as Publix, is an employee-owned American supermarket chain headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, Publix is a private corporation wholly owned by present and past employees and members of the Jenkins family.

Publix operates throughout the Southeastern United States, with stores in Florida (889), Georgia (221), Alabama (96), South Carolina (74), Tennessee (61), North Carolina (61), Virginia (24), and Kentucky (6). Kentucky became the most recent addition to Publix's footprint when the first store opened in Louisville on January 10, 2024.

As of June 2025, Publix employs about 260,000 people across its 1,432 store locations, cooking schools, corporate offices, nine grocery distribution centers, and eleven manufacturing facilities. These manufacturing facilities produce dairy, deli, bakery, and other food products. The National Center for Employee Ownership notes that Publix has the largest Employee stock ownership plan among almost 6,500 organizations in the U.S.

History

George Jenkins previously worked at a store called Piggly Wiggly before starting his own business. He believed employees should share in the company's success. In 1930, he opened the first Publix store in Winter Haven, Florida. The store was modern, with air conditioning and special features like music and flower shops.

Publix grew quickly, even during tough times like the Great Depression. By the 1940s, Jenkins opened Florida’s first supermarket with many new ideas, like automatic doors and cold storage. After World War II, Publix bought more stores to grow even larger.

Publix later moved its headquarters to Lakeland, Florida and opened many new stores across Florida and other states. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Publix helped by cleaning stores more often and giving vaccines to people who needed them.

Stores

Each store offers many products and services like groceries, deli meats, bakery items, fruits and vegetables, flowers, meats, and seafood. Some stores also have parking help, cafés, sushi bars, pharmacies, and even places to buy alcohol. The sandwiches from Publix delis are famous and are often called "Pub subs".

The customer service area also helps with cash checks, money transfers, renting cleaning machines, and selling lottery tickets. Some stores used to rent DVDs, but Publix stopped this service in 2005 and switched to an online photo service through Snapfish, which is no longer used either.

Aprons

Aprons was Publix’s special brand for easy home recipes. They had over 4,000 recipes made by chefs.

In 2005, Publix started Aprons make-ahead meals where customers could pick up pre-made meals. These were only in Jacksonville and Lithia, Florida, but closed in 2009 because not many people were interested. They also had cooking schools, but these closed by mid-2023. Online cooking videos are still available on YouTube as of September 2024.

Publix GreenWise Market

GreenWise Market was a special store idea Publix started in 2007 to focus on healthy foods like those sold in stores such as Whole Foods Market. These stores had organic products and special food bars. The first store opened in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on September 27, 2007. More stores opened in Boca Raton, Tampa, and other places.

From 2008 to 2016, Publix mixed the GreenWise idea into regular stores. In 2017, they planned more special GreenWise stores, with the first opening near Florida State University in Tallahassee in 2018. In May 2023, Publix decided to stop the GreenWise brand, turning these stores back into regular Publix stores. However, they still sell healthy and organic foods in all Publix stores.

Publix Sabor

Publix had seven special stores called Publix Sabor in South Florida, offering foods popular with Latino families. These stores were in Miami and Hialeah and had Spanish-speaking staff, cafés, and Latin American foods. These stores have since closed or merged into regular Publix stores. There were also two Publix Sabor stores in Kissimmee and Lake Worth, but they are now closed.

Publix Sabor stores had staff who spoke both English and Spanish, cafés where people could sit, and many prepared foods from Latin America.

Pharmacy

The first Publix pharmacy opened in Altamonte Springs, Florida on October 30, 1986. Today, about 90% of Publix stores have a pharmacy. Publix pharmacies are often rated highly by customers.

Publix announced in August 2007 that they would give away some antibiotics, but doctors worried this could encourage people to use antibiotics too often.

The Little Clinic

In early 2006, Publix started small health clinics called The Little Clinic inside some stores in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. These clinics helped with small health problems and check-ups. Publix closed these clinics in 2011 to focus more on their pharmacies and grocery stores.

BayCare telehealth sites

In March 2017, Publix worked with BayCare Health System to add telehealth services in some stores in the Tampa Bay area. Customers could talk to doctors online from private rooms in the store and get help for small health issues.

Online shopping and delivery services

PublixDirect

In October 2001, Publix started an online grocery shopping service called PublixDirect, delivering groceries to customers in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties in Florida. The service was later stopped in 2003 because not many people used it.

Publix Curbside

After PublixDirect, Publix tried another service called Publix Curbside in 2010. Customers could order groceries online and then drive to a store where an employee would bring the items to their car. This service was stopped in 2012 but later restarted using a partner called Instacart.

The company worked with Instacart to offer online shopping and delivery starting in 2016. Customers in certain areas could order from Publix and have groceries delivered by Instacart drivers. This service was available in many cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Nashville.

Publix planned to make this delivery service available in more stores by the end of 2017.

Food World

In response to other stores lowering prices, Publix opened its first Food World store in Orlando, Florida in September 1970. This was the first of 22 stores under the Food World name. The largest Food World store opened in Lakeland, Florida in 1977, covering 57,000 square feet and being the largest store in the Southeast at the time. It was the first Publix store to use barcode scanners. The Food World brand was stopped in 1985 because these stores were not making enough money.

Publix PIX

From 2001 to 2014, Publix ran 14 PIX gas and convenience stores in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. These were sold to Circle K and another company in 2014, ending the PIX brand. The sites were turned into other brands, but Publix kept the rights to the name "PIX".

Crispers

In 2002, Publix invested in Crispers, a restaurant chain in Lakeland that focused on healthy food. Publix bought more of the company in 2004 and took it over completely in 2007. However, in May 2011, Publix sold Crispers to Healthy Food Concepts LLC because the restaurants were not doing well. At the time of the sale, there were 36 Crispers stores left.

Publix Liquors

Publix tried selling liquor in three stores in the late 1980s but stopped in 1989. They started again in 2003 with a store in Miami and have had success since then, with over 350 liquor stores. These stores have a separate entrance as required by laws. The first Publix Liquors store outside Florida opened in Kentucky in January 2024.

Publix POURS

Publix started a new idea called POURS at a GreenWise Market in Tallahassee in 2018. Customers could get smoothies, coffee, beer, or wine while shopping. This idea was added to some other Publix stores, especially new ones or after renovations. As of January 2025, 16 Publix stores in Florida had POURS service.

DVD rental kiosks

In 2005, Publix put DVD rental machines in eight stores in South Florida, with plans to add more. These were later changed to Blockbuster Express machines in 2009 after a partnership with NCR and Blockbuster. By 2010, all Publix stores had these machines. In 2012, these were replaced with Redbox machines. Between late 2023 and mid-2024, the Redbox machines were removed from Publix stores.

Starbucks

In December 2016, Publix opened its first Starbucks coffee shop inside a store in the Orlando area, with five more opening in 2017.

Presto!

Presto ! is a fee-free ATM network started by Publix in 1982. Every Publix store has at least one Presto! ATM. As of 2026, there are over 1,400 Presto! ATMs in 8 states: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. Customers can use debit, credit, and government benefit cards to pay at any Publix store. Members do not pay a $2.95 fee for withdrawals, and the daily withdrawal limit is $400. Deposits are not allowed.

MV Express

Florida MV Express is a program allowed by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. It lets people renew their vehicle registration and print license plate decals at self-service kiosks, including many at Publix stores. The process takes about two minutes and works for cars, trucks, RVs, and trailers. The kiosk will not work if insurance information is missing or if there are name or address changes, new tags needed, or driver’s license or toll problems. Payment must be by credit or debit card; some locations accept cash.

Working environment

Publix is often called one of the best places to work. Since 1998, it has been on a special list of great companies to work for every single year.

The company started in 1930 and has never had to let workers go without a good reason.

Political giving

Publix has a group called a Political Action Committee that helps them support things that are important for their business.

Recently, Publix has supported conservative ideas, like not allowing medical marijuana and not regulating a material called polystyrene. They also gave money to support a governor who many conservatives like. After a school shooting, some people in Miami protested because of Publix’s support for certain leaders. Publix then decided to stop giving money from the company for political reasons and think about their rules again.

Later, Publix gave money to support the governor of Florida. Some people thought it was because Publix helped give out COVID-19 vaccines in their stores, but both the governor and a Publix spokesperson said this was not true. Publix was able to give vaccines to older people in their stores while other big companies focused on larger efforts.

Locations

Distribution centers

Distribution centers are located in several states:

• Alabama
  • McCalla – non-perishables
• Florida
  • Boynton Beach – grocery
  • Deerfield Beach – perishables
  • Jacksonville – dairy, frozen food, grocery, meat, produce
  • Lakeland – frozen food, grocery, meat, dairy, produce, general merchandise (low velocity)
  • Miami – grocery
  • Orlando – frozen food, meat, produce, grocery, pharmacy
  • Sarasota – grocery
• Georgia
  • Dacula – dairy, frozen food, grocery, meat, produce, general merchandise (low velocity)
• North Carolina
  • Greensboro

Manufacturing facilities

Manufacturing facilities are located in:

• Florida
  • Deerfield Beach – dairy, fresh foods, fresh kitchen
  • Jacksonville – fresh foods
  • Lakeland – bakery, dairy, deli, fresh foods, fresh kitchen, printing services
  • Orlando – produce, snacks
• Georgia
  • Dacula – dairy, fresh foods
  • Atlanta – bakery

Support offices

• Florida
  • Lakeland – corporate offices, IT data center, flight center, programming and IT support, call center and customer care
  • Jacksonville – offices
  • Miami – offices
• Georgia
  • Marietta – offices
  • Alpharetta – IT data center
• North Carolina
  • Charlotte – offices

Legal disputes

In 2003, Publix supported a bill that stopped property owners from suing if their land was polluted by chemicals from a neighboring property that was on a state cleanup list. Publix lost a lawsuit in 2001 about this kind of pollution.

In 2005, Publix sued Visa and MasterCard because they felt the companies were using unfair business practices by raising fees without warning. Around the same time, Wal-Mart won a similar case against Visa in 2004.

In 2014, Publix faced a claim about treating someone unfairly because of their LGBT status. A court later decided the claim wasn’t proven strong enough.

In 2025, Publix stopped working with a chicken supplier after concerns were raised about how the animals were treated.